California lawmaker wants to blur Google Earth

yet another good idea/bad implemetation bill

LifeinAsia

-- "An operator of a commercial Internet Web site or online service that makes a virtual globe browser available to members of the public shall not provide aerial or satellite photographs or imagery of a building or facility in this state that is identified on the Internet Web site by the operator as a school or place of worship, or a government or medical building or facility, unless those photographs or images have been blurred.

The way the bill is currently written, if you have a web site that uses Google Maps, and Google doesn't blur the image of a church 2,000 miles away from you, YOU could also be liable for $250,000/day!

anallawalla

11:07 am on Mar 19, 2009 (gmt 0)

gpilling,

Aerial survey aircraft don't fly over no-fly zones but you could equally charter a chopper to fly over someone else's property and take pictures to your heart's content. If you found someone sunbathing topless, you're not likely to post the image online. Even if you did, it would not merit much attention, but the first discovery of a topless sunbaker on Google Earth made world news. There doesn't seem to be much difference, but Google Earth/Maps/Street View strike terror into some people because a lot of major roads and streets are visible.